TJ Shorts did what no-one ever did before in the BKT EuroCup by earning the full-season, quarterfinal, semifinals and finals MVP honors. And he did it while earning the respect from everyone on the team, from team owner David Kahn, who praised him after the game, to all of his teammates, who left the locker room to celebrate with him in the press conference. It was as much what Shorts means to them off the court as on it that they appreciated.

Paris president David Kahn on MVP Shorts: "TJ wins"

Paris Basketball playmaker [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) has accomplished what no BKT EuroCup player before him ever did by earning the [full-season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-eurocup-mvp-2023-24-t-j-shorts-paris-basketball/), [quarterfinal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/quarterfinals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris/), [semifinals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/semifinals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris-basketball/) and [finals MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/eurocup-finals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris-basketball/) honors.

What's more, he did it while earning huge respect from everyone around the team, from [Paris club president David Kahn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/a-quarter-with-kyle-hines-club-president-david-kahn-discusses-the-growth-of-paris-basketball/), who praised him after the game, to all of his teammates, who left the locker room to celebrate with him in the press conference. It was as much what Shorts means to them off the court as on it that they appreciated.

The professionalism Shorts showed soon  after his teammates piled on top of him at Ekinox to celebrate [Paris's 81-89 title-winning victory ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-paris-basketball/U2023/196/)over host Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse on Friday explained why.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wildest preas conference in European basketball?<a href="https://twitter.com/NadirHifi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NadirHifi</a> leading the show!<br><br>Congratulations, <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a>!!! cc <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/p2szZUZ2EU">pic.twitter.com/p2szZUZ2EU</a></p>&mdash; Javier Gancedo (@ganchetto) <a href="https://twitter.com/ganchetto/status/1778890407251685868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Before the trophy presentation, Shorts went to shake the hands of all Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse players for their effort during the finals, even looking for the ones who were not close to their bench. He went on to praise Bourg in the press conference.

"Credit to Bourg. That is a tough basketball team and this is a tough place to play. The gym was rocking," Shorts said.

Asked about his team's star playmaker, Kahn shared a private conversation he had with him right after winning.

"I'll share with you what I said to TJ just now, and that is he is defining himself with the highest accolade you can have in sports. He's a winner. You know, people talk about leading scorers and leading rebounders and assist-to-turnover ratio and statistics. But TJ wins," Kahn said. "He's been winning now in Europe at the highest level in several competitions. And when you become a winner like that by reputation, there's no higher accolade."

His teammate [Tyson Ward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyson-ward/012610/) agreed.

"I think it shows for itself, man. I mean, he's a great dude on and off the court, brings an energy and holds everyone accountable, even himself. No matter if it's a good game or a bad game, you know, he doesn't have too many of those, but he's always there for everybody on the team. He's the one," Ward said.  

"He's the loudest in the locker room. He's the loudest on the court sometimes, and he's just a great leader. He embodies the role that he's in. He knows that he makes big-time plays and he really like embraces his role. And you can see it night in and night out. And I'm super proud of him. And I think he's going to be very special as time goes on. And what we're witnessing right now is just something truly special."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You don’t have to say a thing <a href="https://twitter.com/TjShorts5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TjShorts5</a> you did your talking on the court…<br><br>You’re a CHAMP 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/ViroDfbNO4">pic.twitter.com/ViroDfbNO4</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1778879144362676255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Ward had a special treat for Shorts during the post-game press conference. After the whole team interrupted it to throw water at Shorts and head coach Tuomas Iisalo, Ward and [Collin Malcolm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/collin-malcolm/012609/) stayed for the rest of it. Ward was even allowed to throw in a hilarious question about his teammate's video game skills.

"Tyson, we are here for T Ward's newsletter, this one's for TJ. Let's talk about your video game life. We are going to comment on your 2K game," he said. "Some would say there are quite a few players on the team that call you 'not surgical' on the 2K floor. And how do you bring your style of play into the game of 2K? Because it doesn't work!"

"First of all, thank you Tyson Ward media, I hope it's over soon," Shorts joked.

"I'm just going to go out and say this, and I'm going to say it one time and leave it at that," he added, standing up and looking to Ward in the eyes. "Colin Malcolm is the number one gamer on our team and at number two, it's me, TJ Shorts. And I'm saying this with my whole heart and chest, Tyson Ward! 

Shorts left everyone in the room laughing just as he left every fan who saw him dominate the season awed at his gifted performances.

Game News

Game Videos

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Paris Basketball (2024-04-12T17:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball is the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup champion. Paris has punched its ticket to the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, finished the EuroCup campaign with an all-time best record of 22-1 and was the first team to win 22 games in a season.

Six of its players and head coach Tuomas Iisalo also won the FIBA Basketball Champions League title with Telekom Baskets Bonn last season. Sebastian Herrera, Collin Malcolm, Tyson Ward and Leon Kratzer are four of them, as is Finals MVP TJ Shorts and Michael Kessens.

Nadir Hifi, Paris Basketball: 'The EuroLeague is coming!'

Paris Basketball is the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup champion. Paris has punched its ticket to the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, finished the EuroCup campaign with an all-time best record of 22-1 and was the first team to win 22 games in a season.

Six of its players and head coach Tuomas Iisalo also won the FIBA Basketball Champions League title with Telekom Baskets Bonn last season. Sebastian Herrera, Collin Malcolm, Tyson Ward and Leon Kratzer are four of them, as is Finals MVP TJ Shorts and Michael Kessens.

### Sebastien Herrera: 'A dream'

Herrera, the first Chilean to win the competition, shared a funny story about the EuroLeague and his arrival to Germany.

"I remember when I got to Germany in 2014, I didn't know anything about the EuroLeague. Anything at all! I just knew there were good teams in it, and my coach in Trier, the first club where I played in Europe, would talk about the EuroLeague, Milos Teodosic, CSKA and a lot more," Herrera said. "I started watching and thought 'Oh, it would be a dream to play there.' And nine years later, this is where I am!"

Sebastian Herrera - EuroCup Finals highlights

### Leon Kratzer: 'An amazing job'

"It's really amazing for all of us guys and the whole organization. It was an amazing job just to be here," Kratzer said after the game. "I'm proud of a lot of guys because I think to manage this pressure after the first 5 minutes where Bourg came out really great... We managed to keep calm and stay calm and just focus on the next play, and in the end, we won."

Leon Kratzer - EuroCup Finals highlights

### Tyson Ward: 'A special moment'

Ward was really excited about the chance to play the EuroLeague. "That's incredible. It's a special moment for me, to be compared with EuroLeaguers, to know that my name will be stated in a EuroLeague lineup," Ward said. "I'm gonna enjoy it tonight. I'm gonna enjoy it tomorrow. I'll enjoy it the next day. I'm gonna enjoy it till the end of the season. And then when it's time to tip off, all that goes away."

Tyson Ward - EuroCup Finals highlights

### Collin Malcolm: 'I love it!'

"It's just an incredible journey. It's special to be able to make history, but it's even more special to just win it with these guys. Do it again with the six that we had and the guys that came in, everyone bought in and to the end. Words are losing me," Malcolm said. "It feels incredible, from August in Finland \[pre-season\] to now in Bourg. Everybody comes to compete every day in practice and everybody's ready for the game, and you never know who's going to be hit the big shot. I love it."

Collin Malcolm EuroCup Finals highlights

Two of the other new players that Malcolm talked about are Mikael Jantunen and Nadir Hifi. Jantunen became the third Finnish player to win the EuroCup, after Hanno Mottola and Petteri Koponen. Jantunen knows both of them personally.

### Mikael Jantunen: 'We give it all'

"I've got to get some more trophies so I can get, like, over them"; he said. "I have got to go send them a message and say we are tied now with this, and go for the next one.

Jantunen also praises his team, not just the players, but everyone around it. "It goes from every member on the staff to every player, everyone in the background. It's just a special group. We enjoy working with each other and we give it all for each other on the court."

Mikael Jantunen - EuroCup Finals highlights

### Nadir Hifi: 'This is important '

Finally, Hifi stated that his team played at a really high level all season and is a well-deserved champion.

"Basically unbelievable. There is a reason for us winning so many games: we work so hard! Like, you cannot imagine! But I'm so proud with these guys. Every day, we work hard. We just deserve that," Hifi said. "This is important for us, our community and our culture in Paris."

"We have a lot of fans, but hey, it's going to be crazy the next year and the EuroLeague is coming! It's going to be crazy!"

Congratulations to Paris Basketball!

Nadir Hifi - EuroCup Finals highlights

In the end, it seemed that nothing was going to stop the season's most dominant team from raising the cup.

Game 2 clincher topped off a pitch-perfect season for Paris

With a domination that belied the fact that few of them had ever played in the BKT EuroCup before, [Paris Basketball put its name on the continental hoops map by sweeping to the title on Friday ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/paris-outlasts-bourg-81-89-to-sweep-to-the-trophy/)and punching its ticket to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season.

There was little doubt how much Paris deserved the achievement after it outlasted Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 81-89 to win their best-of-three final series 2-0. Paris had previously beaten London Lions 2-0 in the semifinals and Joventut Badalona in the single-game quarterfinals for a perfect post-season atop their 17-1 run through Group A in the regular season.

Simply put, Paris was a tour de force this EuroCup season, and though it had to work hard to shake Bourg on a home court it had dominated all season, Friday was no different. 

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse-Paris Basketball | Finals Game 2 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### As always, Paris found a way to win

Working from behind on the scoreboard after Bourg came out firing with 6 first-quarter three-pointers, Paris never let the hosts get too far out of reach, trailing 26-22 after 10 minutes and 46-43 at halftime. Even when Paris reclaimed the lead in the third quarter, Bourg battled to take it back, 66-64 in the first minute of the fourth.

That's when Paris's pedigree came to the fore as [TJ Shorts, the finals MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/eurocup-finals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris-basketball/), lobbed to Leon Kratzer for a killer dunk that seemed to change the momentum for good. Within half-a-minute, Mikael Jantunen was hitting a three-pointer that Tyson Ward would copy and Jantunen would do again for 9-0 run in 90 seconds that Bourg never recovered from.

Paris's TJ Shorts goes upstairs and Leon Kratzer whacks the rim!

Magic Moment: Shorts to Kratzer alley-oop!

"First, hats off to Bourg for an incredible game today," Paris boss Tuomas Iisalo said afterward. "They really forced us to the limit and brought the best out in us. We took their toughest punch in the first half and weathered the storm. I said to the guys at halftime, 'We're in great position. They made every shot and we're only 3 points down.' Then I went to the coaches' locker room and said, 'I hope they start missing shots.'"

The team that didn't miss when it counted, as all season long, was Paris. Whether it took teams out early or late, Paris always took them out, usually with exemplary offense, topping 100 points in 10 games to finish with the 97.0 points per game, the highest in EuroCup history. After winning Game 1 by just [77-64](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/195/), though, Paris had plenty of firepower to take Friday's title-clincher [81-89.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-paris-basketball/U2023/196/)

### A well-deserved celebration

The emotions that poured out at the end were borne of joy and a bit of relief after Paris had pushed for perfection throughout the EuroCup season, and cam without a narrow home loss of achieving it. The EuroCup trophy and a place in the EuroLeague were the ultimate rewards.

"It's a wonderful feeling," Iisalo said after the game. "And for those watching from home or watching here, all the emotions after the final buzzer, it's very hard to put into words. You've invested so much of your time. We've been together with the team and the staff more than with our families. We've traveled all over Europe and France in order to do something special together.

"When we set off on this project, with very big ambitions, to realize it, like this, in the first year, it's something incredible. How much hard work, how much dedication, how many sacrifices it has taken... When it all comest to fruition and everybody understands it was worth it, but how much it took, that's sports at its best."

The best team all season completed its mission to lift the trophy with a hard-fought road win!

Paris outlasts Bourg 81-89 to sweep to the trophy!

Paris Basketball is the new BKT EuroCup champion after completing a sweep of the entire playoffs with a 81-89 road win on Friday in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals on the home court of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The victory ensures that for the first time this century, the French capital will have a representative in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season. Paris completed an unprecented 22-1 campaign in comeback fashion after trailing for 20 minutes into the second half but then slowly turning the game in its favor until a 9-0 fourth-quarter fun gave the visitors control the rest of the way. TJ Shorts led the winners with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Mikael Jantunen followed with 15 points, Nadir Hifi with 14 and Tyson Ward with 10. Bourg, which ws as close as 74-78 late in the fourth quarter, got 16 points from Isiaha Mike, 14 from Jeremy Morgan, 21 from Bodian Massa and 11 each from Axel Julien and Hugo Benitez.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2-0 for <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> <br><br>A win to bring the 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/vqGYcOZx6r">pic.twitter.com/vqGYcOZx6r</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1778871266897743964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 


Early triples by Jantunen and Jequan Lewis led to an early 7-7 tie that Morgan broke with a corner triple for Bourg. When Mike added his own transition three-pointer, the lead for Bourg was 13-9. Then Paris left Morgan open again and he buried another shot from the arc at 16-9, forcing a timeout from the visitors. Hifi broke a two-minute Paris drought with 3 free throws. Paris pulled within 18-16 before Julien made Bourg's fifth three-pointer already, but Hifi matched him. Maxim Salash kept it going for Bourg from deep to make it 24-19 and Benitez beat the buzzer to keep Bourg up 26-22 after 10 minutes.

Benitez kept pushing Bourg to a 30-22 advantage early in the second quarter before Paris followed Shorts and Jantunen to get within 32-29. Both teams traded baskets until Justin Simon stole and detonated a huge dunk to get Paris within 38-37. Mike and Julien responded with 5 points in a row for Bourg but Shorts kept the visitors close and sliced to the basket to make it 45-43 inside the final minute, but Bourg held a 46-43 halftime lead, having stayed in front the last 18 minutes of the half.

Ward's triple opened the second half by tying the score. Benitez answered immediately from the high post. Sebastian Herrera tied it up on a drive and Shorts blasted a triple to give Paris its first lead in more than 20 minutes, 48-51. Massa hit a hook shot and stole from Shorts to dunk at the other end and retake the lead for Bourg. Hifi flipped the scoreboard again at 52-53, added  a jumper to it and then blasted a triple off an inbounds play to suddenly boost the difference to 52-58. Bourg soon got an open triple from Morgan to close within 59-61, then Julien and Lewis tied it up at 63-63. Shorts got back to the foul line to let Paris keep ahead 63-64 after 30 minutes. 

After Paris was up 63-64 heading into the fourth quarter, Salash put Bourg back in front, 66-64. Against a zone defense by Bourg, Leon Kratzer blasted an alley-oop slam for Paris that seemed to change the momentum for good. Next, Jantunen hit a pair of triples around another from Tyson Ward for a 0-9 run to suddenly make it 67-75. Jantunen drew a charge next on Risacher. Bryce Brown fed Bodian Massa for a huge dunk to get the crowd back into it. Julien cut it to 71-76 with a layup. Morgan made it 74-78 from downtown, but Shorts answered in close. Brown scored for Bourg to stay within 76-80 but Hifi blasted another triple and the visitors guarded the lead the rest of the way to end up celebrating at courtside with the trophy!

The most dominant team ever in the competition seizes the crown, too!

 Paris Basketball reigns supreme in the EuroCup! 

[Paris Basketball is the new BKT EuroCup champion](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/paris-outlasts-bourg-81-89-to-sweep-to-the-trophy/) after completing a sweep of the entire playoffs with [an 81-89 road win ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-paris-basketball/U2023/196/#boxscore)on Friday in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals on the home court of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The victory ensures that for the first time this century, the French capital will have a representative in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season. Paris completed an unprecedented 22-1 campaign in comeback fashion after trailing for 20 minutes into the second half but then slowly turning the game in its favor until a 9-0 fourth-quarter fun gave the visitors control the rest of the way. TJ Shorts led the winners with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Mikael Jantunen followed with 15 points, Nadir Hifi with 14 and Tyson Ward with 10. Congratulations to the new champs!

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏆 LE PARIS BASKETBALL REMPORTE L’<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> 2023/2024 ! 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/AAysjoAgqR">pic.twitter.com/AAysjoAgqR</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1778869192369766606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Shorts is crowned MVP of the finals!

Paris point guard [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) was voted as the [MVP of the finals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/eurocup-finals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris-basketball/) to make it a clean sweep of such awards in all three rounds of the postseason in which his team played. He was also the [quarterfinals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/quarterfinals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris/) and [semifinals ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/semifinals-mvp-tj-shorts-paris-basketball/)MVP. In the two-game finals, Shorts averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steal for a per-game PIR of 24.0.

Finals MVP Award Presentation | TJ SHORTS | Paris Basketball

Paris Basketball

"I'm just grateful to be allowed to be part of this type of group. We worked hard all year long, and we knew what we could do. We just had to go out there and show it, and I think we just did that."


Paris Basketball reigns supreme in the EuroCup!

The father of this season's EuroLeague Rising Star is rooting his son on at the BKT EuroCup Finals

Stephane Risacher: 'Basketball is all over our family'

The Risacher family is front and center at the BKT EuroCup Finals.

Forward [Zaccharie Risacher, the 2023-24 EuroCup Rising Star](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-eurocup-rising-star-winner-zaccharie-risacher-bourg/), is starring for Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and his father, former EuroLeague star Stephane Risacher, is in town, too.

Stephane is one of four legends who came to Bourg en Bresse to teach young players at a clinic organized by the French League. He was joined by Antoine Rigaudeau, Frederic Weis and Laurent Foirest. And the proud papa was pleased to chat about his son's success.

"He is playing well and seeing playing time. He's had some very good moments and some other tough ones," Stephane said. "But in general, if you look at his season since it started in September, I am very proud of him."

Stephane was a complete player who joined forces with Bourg coach Frederic Fauthoux at Pau-Orthez in the late 1990s. He also played for many different French clubs as well as for Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece, Unicaja Malaga and Murcia of Spain. Among his career highlights was winning a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with the French national team alongside Rigaudeau, Weis and Foirest.

The elder Risacher said that he is very happy that Zaccharie chose Bourg, where he has played more and worked hard in the right environment.

"He needed to play and make the most out of his talent. He came here to do that and work with Freddy \[Fauthoux\]. I think he was the right person to help him adjust to the professional basketball world. Everything is going well," Stephane said.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Definitely, Zaccharie is a strong person 💪” <br><br>We spoke to Stephane Risacher, French basketball LEGEND and Silver medalist at 2000 Olympics in Sydney with French National Team 👏 on Finals Day as he gave his thoughts on his son and the pressures he is going through.… <a href="https://t.co/0A72F2ZJgP">pic.twitter.com/0A72F2ZJgP</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1778763332427649060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Zaccharie was born in Malaga, Spain, and followed his father throughout his career around Europe. There were never doubts as to his favorite sport, as even though he had choices, Zaccharie was always into basketball. Stephane made sure he had everything he needed to practice at all times.

"Basketball is all over our family, it is our life story. We all play sports in general, but Zaccharie and his sister have always played basketball. They grew up playing basketball and always had a basketball in their hands," he said. "They shot a lot, too, as we always had a hoop everywhere we lived. That is the way we are."

Fast forward to the 2024 EuroCup Finals, Zaccharie has a chance to win his first European title at a professional level and his future looks brighter than ever. He is working hard every day to get better, and his father believes that fame will not change him because of his work ethic and loyalty to the people in his circle of trust.

"Fame is a part of the equation but we know what he needs to do, first and foremost, for himself. Everything will come to him through his effort. And also, he knows there are people around him that love him and will always love him, so after he has done all that hard work for himself, he knows there are people that will have his back," Stephane said. "Fame comes, goes, comes again and goes again. It is nothing special. He has to follow his way and know that the people that are important to him will always be with him."

Check out the predictions from EuroCupbasketball.com staff members for Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Finals, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Paris Basketball.

Finals, Game 2 predictions: Bourg vs. Paris

### Paris will complete a playoffs sweep

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

Paris Basketball has been, hands down, the best team in the EuroCup this season. What has impressed me is that the team has not shied away from the moment. As impressive as Paris was in the regular season, head coach Tuomas Iisalo's young team continued the same way in the playoffs: four postseason games, four wins, all without much drama, by the winning margin of eight points or more. Bourg has deserved its place in the finals and has played great defense, but I think the first half of Game 1 showed how dominant Paris can be. I think Paris leaves nothing to chance and finishes the job in style on Friday night, sweeping its way through the playoffs, winning the EuroCup crown, and earning its ticket to the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. My pick: Paris by double digits.

### Bourg will tie the series at home

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

Game 1 gave us the chance to see Bourg playing arguably its worst basketball of the season before halftime: turnovers, missed shots and a tremendous lack of confidence. Everything changed in the second half, when Bourg held Paris to just 23 points, setting the tone on offense with spectacular dunks and better shot selection. I believe we will see more of the latter in Game 2, as Bourg has played really well throughout the season. Players like Isiaha Mike and Maksim Salash should get close to their usual numbers, plus head coach Frederic Fauthoux should make the right adjustments. What's more, Bourg plays with one of the most underrated home crowds in the competition. Expect Ekinox to be completely packed, allowing Bourg to play much better and take the series back to Paris for do-or-die Game 3: My pick: Bourg.

The 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals have reached their climax through an all-French affair. It's old versus new as Bourg seek their first European title in their 114-year history, while Paris also pursue a maiden international trophy having only been formed in 2018.

Paris Basketball-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Finals Game 1 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Paris to sweep against Bourg

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Okay, this isn't the boldest prediction in the world but I think Paris will wrap up the EuroCup Finals tonight and finish the 2023-24 season with an unbeaten road record. Bourg did beat Paris 83-81 at Ekinox in the French League back in December, but Tuomas Iisalo's players will be out to avenge that defeat and book their ticket for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. In particular, I expect Paris's star duo of TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi to get the job done. My pick: Paris. 

Bourg is looking to bounce back in Game 2 of the EuroCup Finals and tie the best-of-three series against Paris Basketball.

Kevin Kokila: 'We will do everything in our capacity to win this game'

### Bourg will bounce back

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

Staying true to my near-perfect pre-playoffs bracket, I say this series goes the limit. Bourg wasn't ready for the Mike Tyson-like start that Paris began the series with, ripping boards and running, attacking the basket relentlessly, and more or less delivering the Game 1 knockout blow by the middle of the second quarter. But Bourg did what good teams do in such circumstances and laid the foundation for a longer series by buckling down on defense and taking the second half of Game 1 by 23-33. In fact, Paris only won the last three quarters of the series opener by 54-53. That shows that Bourg has the chops to compete in this series, and I think they'll do that on their home floor on Friday. My pick: Bourg.

Collin Malcolm, Paris: 'Go for it, or else it can slip away'

### Welcome to the EuroLeague, Paris!

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

Anything can happen in one game, of course, but there is little doubt as to the better team. Paris showed that in the first half on Tuesday and even though Bourg found itself in the second half, it was too little, too late. The question is whether Bourg uncovered something that will carry over into Game 2 or if Paris was just coasting with what it felt was an insurmountable lead. My hunch is the latter. Bourg has had an unbelievable season. It probably ends tonight. Congratulations to Paris. See you next season in the EuroLeague. My pick: Paris. 

After winning Game 1, Paris Basketball players are getting ready to seal the deal in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Finals played in Bourg.

"We are feeling excited to close this series and win the EuroCup," big man [Leon Kratzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/leon-kratzer/004512/) said the night before Game 2. "But we all know it's going to be a different game."

For Kratzer, the key for the Paris team to lift a trophy on Friday will be to stay true to the style they have been showing all season.

"Most important is just to play our basketball," Kratzer explains. "We cannot allow them get in their play and we must impose our pace."

Watch the rest of the interview below to see what else Kratzer said ahead of Game 2 against Bourg.

Leon Kratzer, Paris: 'Most important is just to play our basketball'

Guard [Collin Malcolm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/collin-malcolm/012609/) also sat down with Javi Gancedo and showed his cool by saying that "it feels like any other game, honestly."

Malcolm admitted that both teams know each other very well because of their also playing the French League. That's why he is very clear on what will be needed on Friday night to win Game 2

"It's just intensity and effort, that's really what's it going to come down to."

Malcolm is happy to be taking part in a European final series, but he is very focused on the moment.

"You have to stay in the moment and just keep going," Malcolm says. "Go for it, or else it can slip away and it can slip away very easily."

Watch the rest of the interview below to see what else Malcolm said ahead of Game 2 against Bourg.

Paris players caught up with Javier Gancedo ahead of Game 2 of the EuroCup Finals.

JL Bourg duo Kevin Kokila and E. J. Rowland caught up with Javier Gancedo ahead of Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Finals.

 Kevin Kokila, Bourg: 'Every important game, we won at home' 

After falling in Game 1, where they were down by 23 points at halftime, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is getting ready to change things around in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Finals.

"There are a lot of things we didn't like about how we played in Game 1," Bourg guard [E.J. Rowland](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/earl-rowland/000498/) said ahead of Friday night's game. "At the end of the day, you have to win one at home, and we have to win the one on the road."

For him, the key is a good start, and not getting itself in a hole, like Bourg has done in the series opener.

"We have to match their intensity," Rowland said. "If we let them get advantage early, it's going to be a difficult game."

The difference, this time, is that Bourg plays on its home floor and will be carried by it fans at the Ekinox.

"We have great fans, everybody is really excited," Rowlands said. "Walking around this city, everybody is really proud."

Watch the rest of the interview below to see what else Rowland said ahead of Game 2 against Paris.

After falling in Game 1, where they were down by 23 points at halftime, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is getting ready to change things around on home floor in front of its fans in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Finals against Paris Basketball.

E.J. Rowland: "Everybody is really proud"

Big man [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/) said he and his teammates know that they "messed up the first game."

"We were not as hungry as they were," Kokila said. "They fought more than us, and that’s not normal at this stage."

Kokila believes that situation will not be repeated, especially with Ekinox packed by Bourg fans:

"The support of our fans at home has been incredible all season long," Kokila said. Bourg is 11-1 on home floor this season

"Every important game, we won at home. We know we have a huge advantage here, and we want to use it tomorrow."

Check out the rest of the interview with Kokila below.

Bourg players caught up with Javier Gancedo ahead of Game 2 of the EuroCup Finals.
